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Vinyl 2010: European PVC industry on course to keep its promises

Vinyl 2010's ninth Progress Report was presented during its annual General Assembly held in London. In the final year of the Voluntary Commitment, made by the PVC industry back in 2000, the report highlights the progress made in 2009 towards achieving its targets.

Despite the difficult global economic situation which has heavily affected this sector, 190,324 tonnes of postconsumer PVC were recycled in 2009, keeping the industry on track to fulfil its commitment to recycle 200,000 tonnes of post-consumer PVC a year by 2010. A total of 688,674 tonnes have been recycled since the beginning of the programme.

Vinyl 2010 Chairman, Ashley Reed, noted at the General Assembly that "the recycling achievements in 2009 were particularly impressive, especially when the decline in the virgin PVC market during the recession is taken into account. The Vinyl 2010 programme has given our industry the opportunity to take greater control of our destiny while providing an excellent platform to promote sustainable development.

In addition to the recycling achievement, Vinyl 2010 reports that by 2010 PVC resin manufacturers from new EU Member States will join their peers from the original EU15 member states in being audited against the ECVM charter for PVC production and that progressive substitution of lead-based stabilisers continues at a fast pace, well ahead of the Commitment target, having been reduced in the EU-15 by more than 68 percent since 2000.

Jean-Pierre De Grève, Vinyl 2010 General Manager, explained that "we have achieved a very strong and credible position for the PVC sector. Today there is broad recognition of the programme both inside and outside the industry. This voluntary commitment has had a very positive environmental and economic impact and, equally important, a very positive impact on the general image of PVC.

The Vinyl 2010 Progress Report also describes the investment in R&D for better alternative additives for PVC with lower environmental impact and the deployment of innovative recycling technologies. "Innovation and green growth are at the heart of the EU's blueprint for competitiveness with a particular emphasis on the attainment of a low carbon economy. The favourable eco-profile of PVC coupled with significant energy savings achieved by using PVC products should allow our industry to assist with the achievement of these European objectives, said Ashley Reed.

The new Vinyl 2010 Progress Report is available for download from Vinyl 2010 website together with a short animated presentation, summarising the main achievements of the voluntary programme.

More information: www.vinyl2010.org

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